Powder applicator for printing machines



Dec. 26, 1950 J. c. SUTTON ETAL t ,2,535,965

POWDER PPLICAIDRr FOR PRINTING MACHINES Filed Sept. 14, 1948 2Sheets-Sheet l IN V EN T 0R)` 7.44155 c'. sufra/v mvo BY orcf 7.'.farro/v A TTORIYEJS De@ 26, 1950 J. c. sUTToN EVAL APPLICATR FRPRINTING MACHINES Filed sept. 14, 1948 2 Sheets-Shee-'c 2 .rwlwsiINVENTORS .r/wfs c .farro/v No BY @aref I sufro/v @Mayan/,6M

Patented Dec. 26, 1950 OFFICE POWDER APPLICATOR FOR PRINTING MACHINESJames C. Sutton and Boyce T. Sutton,

Lyman,

Application September 14, 1948, Serial No. 49,214

3 Claims.

This invention relates to printing machines, and more particularly to anapplicator adapted to spray powder across the face of the endlessblanket used in a textile printing machine or other similar printingmachines.

In the modern textile printing machine, powder is applied to the endlessprinting blanket at the powder dryer assembly after it leaves thewashing station and before it passes to the printing station. The use ofpowder in this way serves two useful purposes. The powder drys the faceof the blanket Eby absorbing any water particles remaining thereon afterit has been washed, thus preventing running of the colors due to thepresence of excess moisture in the subsequent printing operation. Also,the powder absorbs excess colors during the printing operation, therebyminimizing the discoloration of the blanket and facilitating the removalof excess colors therefrom during the washing operation.

The applicator customarily used in the powder dryer assembly of thesemachines consists of a gravity feed hopper containing a supply ofpowder, such as talc, and a series of brushes for spreading the talcacross the face of the blanket and for removing any excess talctherefrom. One of the problems encountered in applying talc in thismanner is that it is not distributed uniformly over the face of theblanket. Also, in the type of applicator heretofore used, it is verydiiiicult to control effectively the amount of talc which is applied.

In accordance with this invention, a, simple applicator is provided forusing air under pressure to spray powder, such as talc, across the faceof I.,

the printing blanket. The arrangement of the applicator in this mannerobviates the diiculties heretofore encountered by affording an excellentuniformity of distribution of powder over the face of the blanket and aneifective control of the amount of powder applied. Thus, the use of anexcessive quantity of powder is eliminated, with resulting economy, andan adequate quantity of powder is constantly sprayed on the blanket toabsorb the excess moisture and colors thereon, with increased efciencyof operation.

Briefly described, this device comprises a hopper containing a supply ofpowder such as talc, conduit means connected to the hopper and arrangedwith a perforated portion of the conduit means adjacent to the printingblanket, and means positioned in the hopper for delivering air underpressure so that the talc is forced by the air pressure from the hopperinto the conduit means and sprayed through the perforated portion of theconduit means across the face of the blanket.

The invention is described more in detail below in connection with theaccompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation view of the powder dryer assembly of atextile printing machine;

Fig. 2 is a corresponding sectional view taken substantially on the line2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged sectional view of the powder applicator takensubstantially on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged sectional view of the regulating valve portion ofthe hopper on the line 4wd of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a corresponding sectional view on line 5-5 of Fig. 4; and

Fig. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary side elevation of the conduit means inthe form of a tubular pipe illustrating the arrangement of theperiorations in that portion of its structure adjacent to the printingblanket.

Referring at first to Figs. l and 2 of the drawing, the disposition andarrangement of a powder applicator Il) arranged in accordance with thepresent invention are shown in relation to the powder dryer assembly IIof a textile printing machine.

The powder dryer assembly II comprises the assembly frame I2, rolls I3,I4, and I5 which are mounted on the assembly frame I2, rotary brush IB,suitably mounted on the assembly frame I2 for rotation by a pulleyarrangement with roll i4 and for lateral adjustment by set screw Il, andthe powder applicator I0.

In the operation of the powder dryer assembly II, the printing blanketI8, after leavingV the washing station (not shown) passes through, thepowder dryer assembly II on rolls I3, Ill, and It. In the passage of theprinting blanket It from roll I4 to roll I5, the face I9 of the printingblanket I3 is cleaned by rotary brush I t; then, the face I9 of theprinting blanket I8 has powder 20 sprayed thereon by the powderapplicator I0. After being sprayed with the powder 20, the printingblanket I8 passes over the roll I5 to the printing station (not shown)of the textile printing machine.. ,Y

The form and arrangement of the powder applicator IB are illustratedmore in detail in Figs. 3, 4, 5, and 6 of the drawing. As shown, thepowder applicator IIJ comprises a hopper 2 I, conduit means 22, andmeans for delivering air under pressure to the conduit means 22.

The hopper 2 I, as shown, is cylindrically shaped, tapers toward thebottom, and contains agitating arms 23, feed propellers and a powderregulating valve 2li. The regulating valve 2e comprises an annularstationary web 26 formed with sector shaped openings an annular movableweb 23 formed with sector shaped blades 22 and connected to thestationary web 2@ at a central ivot point 2t, a bolt Si attached to theend of one oi blades and extending through a slot 32 in the side of thehop-per 2 i, and a locking nut 33 mounted on the extending end of thebolt Si. As shown in Fig. e, the movement of the bolt 3| in the slot 32rotates the movable web 23 so that the annular position oi the sectorshaped blades 2S determine the clearance afforded by the sector shapedopenings 2l. is soon as the desired amount of powder is passing throughthe engages the side of the hopper thereby locking the movable web 26 inxed relation to the stationary web 2li. The agitating arms 23 and feedpropellers are rotated in the hopper 2i by the motor 6d, mounted on theassembly Yfrantic i2, with a pulley arrangement the wheel on the motorshaft and the wheel on the shaft 3S, mounted on the hopper i,transmitting the necessary power through the gear The conduit means 22ni y taire any convenient form for receiving the powder forced by airpressure from the hopper 2i and or spraying the powder 20 uniformly overthe face of the printing blanket i6; as shown, the conduit means 22comprises a tubular pipe arrangement having perorations dii spaced inthat portion of its structure adjacent to the printing blanket lil, Thistubular pipe arrangement is connected to the hopper 2i' at the end 3iwhich is formed with a Venturi shaped throat ft2 for receiving air underpressure from the nozzle of the air compressor pipe lili, and is closedat the other extending end The means for delivering air under pressureto the conduit means 22 comprises a pipe L35 from an air compressor (notshown) a magnetic cut-on and cut-oil valve (it for controlling thedelivery of the compressed air, and a nozzle i3 positioned in the baseof the hopper 2i so that ,air under pressure is delivered directly intothe center oi' the Venturi shaped throat L32 of the conduit means 22.

The cooperating action of the agitating arms 23 and feed propellers 2with the proper setting of the regulating valve 25 provides a measuredquantity of powder Ztl to the base of the hopper 2i. During theoperation of the textile printing ma.- chine a constant stream ofcompressed air is forced through the pipe and out ci the nozzle 43positioned in the base of the hopper 2i so that the powder 26 is forcedby the air pressure from the base of the hopper 2i through the Venturishaped throat i2 and out of the conduit means 22 through the peroraticns.lit

Since the conduit means 22 is disposed across the face i6 of theprinting blanket it with that portion of its structure containing theperforations d@ adjacent to the printing blanket i3, the face i9 of theprinting blanket iii is sprayed constantly by a measured quantity ofpowder 26.

We claim:

1. A powder applicator for applying talc to a printing blanket in atextile printing machine comprising a perforated, elongated conduithaving an open Venturi shaped throat at one end, means for supplyingtalc to said Venturi shaped throat, a tubular nozzle connected to asource of compressed air and disposed in the center of said Venturishaped throat whereby compressed air is delivered into said Venturishaped throat and said talc is forced into said conduit and through theperforations onto said blanket.

2. In a textile printing machine having a printing blanket, a powderapplicator comprising powder supply means, a perforated, elongatedconduit disposed in spaced relation transversely of the blanket of saidmachine, said conduit having an open Venturi shaped throat in one end,said Venturi shaped end being connected to said supply means, saidconduit being closed at the other extending end and having a pluralityof perforations spaced in that portion of its structure adjacent to saidblanket, a tubular nozzle connected to a source of compressed air andpositioned in said supply means with the end of nozzle being disposed inthe center of said Venturi shaped throat iv-hereby compressed air isdelivered into said Venturi shaped throat forcing said powder into saidconduit and through said perorations across the face of said blanket.

3. In a textile printing machine having a printing blanket, a powderapplicator comprising a hopper lferne for storing a supply of powder,said hopper having agitating and regulating means for controlling theflow of powder to the base or" said hopper', a perforated, elongatedconduit disposed in spaced relation transversely of the blanket 0.? saidmachine and formed with a plurality of per orations in that portion ofits structure adjacent to said blanket, said conduit having an openVenturi shaped throat in one end, said open end being connected to thepase of said hopper, said conduit being closed at the other extendingend, and a tubular nozzle connected to a source of compressed air andpositioned in the base or said hopper in spaced relation to said Venturishaped throat for delivering air under pressure to said Venturi shapedthroat whereby compressed air is delivered into said Venturi shapedthroat forcing said powder into said conduit and through saidperforations across the face of said blanket.

JAMES C. SUTTON. BOYCE T. SUTTON.

REFERENCES CITED The following reierences are of record in the ille ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 825,381 Coleman July 10, 1,9061,333,079 Kaufmann May 9, 1920 2,006,757 Bostrom et al July 2, 19352,261,212 Bergh Nov. 4, 194,1 2,266,849 Cole Dec. 23, 1941 ,2,375,766Britcher May 15, 1945

